Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 109

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724

USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I > Part 109

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Among the incidents of "Underground Rail- road" in Illinois is one which had some importance politically, having for its climax a dramatic scene in Congress, but of which, so far as known. no full account has ever been written. About 1855, Ephraim Lombard, a Mississippi planter, but a New Englander by birth, purchased a large body of prairie land in the northeastern part of Stark County, and, taking up his residence temporarily in the village of Bradford, began its improve- ment. He had brought with him from Mississippi a negro, gray-haired and bent with age, a slave

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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

of probably no great value. "Old Mose," as he was called, soon came to be well known and a favorite in the neighborhood. Lombard boldly stated that he had brought him there as a slave; that, by virtue of the Dred Scott decision (then of recent date), he had a constitutional right to take his slaves wherever he pleased, and that "Old Mose" was just as much his property in With another incident of an amusing charac- ter this article may be closed: Hon. J. Young Scammon, of Chicago, being accused of conniving at the escape of a slave from officers of the law, was asked by the court what he would do if sum- moned as one of a posse to pursue and capture a fugitive. "I would certainly obey the summons," he replied, "but-I should probably stub my toe and fall down before I reached him." Illinois as in Mississippi. It soon became evident to some, that his bringing of the negro to Illinois was an experiment to test the law and the feel- ings of the Northern people. This being the case, a shrewd play would have been to let him have his. way till other slaves should have been brought to stock the new plantation. But this was too slow a process for the abolitionists, to whom the holding of a slave in the free State of NOTE .- Those who wish to pursue the subject of the "Underground Railroad " in Illinois further, are referred to the work of Dr. Siebert, already mentioned. and to the various County Histories which have been issued and may be found in the public libraries; also for interesting inci- dents, to "Reminiscences of Levi Coffin," Johnson's "From Dixie to Canada," Petit's Sketches, "Still, Under- ground Railroad," and a pamphlet of the same title by James H. Fairchild, ex-President of Oberlin College. Illinois appeared an unbearable outrage. It was feared that he might take the old negro back to Mississippi and fail to bring any others. It was reported, also, that "Old Mose" was ill-treated; that he was given only the coarsest food in a back shed, as if he were a horse or a dog, instead of being permitted to eat at table with the family. The prairie citizen of that time was very par- ticular upon this point of etiquette. The hired man or woman, debarred from the table of his or her employer, would not have remained a day. A quiet consultation with "Old Mose" revealed the fact that he would hail the gift of freedom joyously. Accordingly, one Peter Risedorf, and another equally daring, met him by the light of the stars and, before morning, he was placed in the care of Owen Lovejoy, at. Princeton, twenty . period he declined a nomination to Congress, miles away. From there he was speedily "franked" by the member of Congress to friends in Canada.

There was a great commotion in Bradford over the "stealing" of "Old Mose." Lombard and his friends denounced the act in terms bitter and · profane, and threatened vengeance upon the per- petrators. The conductors were known only to a few, and they kept their secret well. Lovejoy's part in the affair, however, soon leaked out. Lombard returned to Mississippi, where he related his experiences to Mr. Singleton, the Representative in Congress from his district. During the next session of Congress, Singleton took occasion, in a speech, to sneer at Lovejoy as a "nigger-stealer," citing the case of "Old Mose." Mr. Lovejoy replied in his usual fervid and dramatic style, making a speech which ensured his election to Congress for life-"Is it desired to call attention to this fact of my assisting fugitive slaves?" he said. "Owen Lovejoy lives at Prince-

ton, Ill., three-quarters of a mile east of the village, and he aids every slave that comes to his door and asks it. Thou invisible Demon of Slavery, dost thou think to cross my humble threshold and forbid me to give bread to the hungry and shelter to the homeless? I bid you defiance, in the name of my God!"

UNDERWOOD, William H., lawyer, legislator and jurist, was born at Schoharie Court House, N. Y., Feb. 21, 1818, and, after admission to the bar, removed to Belleville, Ill., where he began practice in 1840. The following year he was elected State's Attorney, and re-elected in 1843. In 1846 he was chosen a member of the lower house of the General Assembly, and, in 1848-54, sat as Judge of the Second Circuit. During this although equivalent to an election. In 1856 he was elected State Senator, and re-elected in 1860. He was a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1869-70, and, in 1870, was again elected to the Senate, retiring to private life in 1872. Died, Sept. 23, 1875.

UNION COUNTY, one of the fifteen counties into which Illinois was divided at the time of its admission as a State-having been organized, under the Territorial Government, in January, 1818. It is situated in the southern division of the State, bounded on the west by the Mississippi River, and has an area of 400 square miles. The eastern and interior portions are drained by the Cache River and Clear Creek. The western part of the county comprises the broad, rich bottom lands lying along the Mississippi, but is subject to frequent overflow, while the eastern portion is hilly, and most of its area originally heavily tim- bered. The county is especially rich in minerals. Iron-ore, lead, bituminous coal, chalk, alum and

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potter's clay are found in considerable abun- dance. Several lines of railway (the most impor- tant being the Illinois Central) either cross or tap the county. The chief occupation is agri- culture, although manufacturing is carried on to a limited extent. Fruit is extensively cultivated. Jonesboro is the county-seat, and Cobden and Anna important shipping stations. The latter is the location of the Southern Hospital for the Insane. The population of the county, in 1890, was 21,529. Being next to St. Clair, Randolph and Gallatin, one of the earliest settled counties in the State, many prominent men found their first home, on coming into the State, at Jones- boro, and this region, for a time, exerted a strong influence in public affairs. Pop. (1910), 21,856.

UNION LEAGUE OF AMERICA, a secret polit- ical and patriotic order whichi had its origin early in the late Civil War, for the avowed pur- pose of sustaining the cause of the Union and counteracting the machinations of the secret organizations designed to promote the success of the Rebellion. The first regular Council of the order was organized at Pekin, Tazewell County, June 25, 1862, consisting of eleven members, as follows. John W. Glasgow, Dr. D. A. Cheever, Hart Montgomery, Maj. Richard N. Cullom (father of Senator Cullom), Alexander Small, Rev. J. W. M. Vernon, George H. Harlow (after- ward Secretary of State), Charles Turner, Col. Jonathan Merriam, Henry Pratt and L. F. Gar- rett. One of the number was a Union refugee from Tennessee, who dictated the first oath from memory, as administered to members of a some- what similar order which had been organized among the Unionists of his own State. It sol- emnly pledged the taker, (1) to preserve invio- late the secrets and business of the order; (2) to "support, maintain, protect and defend the civil liberties of the Union of these United States against all enemies, either domestic or foreign, at all times and under all circumstances," even "if necessary, to the sacrifice of life"; (3) to aid in electing only true Union men to offices of trust in the town, county, State and General Government; (4) to assist, protect and defend any member of the order who might be in peril from his connection with the order, and (5) to obey all laws, rules or regulations of any Council to which the taker of the oath might be attached. The oath was taken upon the Bible, the Decla- ration of Independence and Constitution of the United States, the taker pledging his sacred honor to its fulfillment. A special reason for the organization existed in the activity, about this

time, of the "Knights of the Golden Circle," a disloyal organization whichi had been introduced from the South, and which afterwards took the name, in the North, of "American Knights" and "Sons of Liberty." (See Secret Treasonable Soci- eties.) Three months later, the organization had extended to a number of other counties of the State and, on the 25th of September following, the first State Council met at Bloomington- twelve counties being represented-and a State organization was effected. At this meeting the following general officers were chosen: Grand President -Judge Mark Bangs, of Marshall County (now of Chicago); Grand Vice-President -Prof. Daniel Wilkin, of McLean; Grand Secre- tary-George H. Harlow, of Tazewell; Grand Treasurer-H. S. Austin, of Peoria, Grand Mar- shal-J. R. Gorin, of Macon; Grand Herald- A. Gould, of Henry; Grand Sentinel-John E. Rosette, of Sangamon. An Executive Committee was also appointed, consisting of Joseph Medill of "The Chicago Tribune"; Dr. A. J. McFar- land, of Morgan County ; J. K. Warren, of Macon; Rev. J. C. Rybolt, of La Salle; the President, Judge Bangs; Enoch Emery, of Peoria; and John E. Rosette. Under the direction of this Committee, with Mr. Medill as its Chairman, the constitution and by-laws were thoroughly revised and a new ritual adopted, which materi- ally changed the phraseology and removed some of the crudities of the original obligation, as well as increased the beauty and impressiveness of the initiatory ceremonies. New signs, grips and pass-words were also adopted, which were finally accepted by the various organizations of tlie order throughout the Union, which, by this time, included many soldiers in the army, as well as civilians. The second Grand (or State) Council was held at Springfield, January 14, 1863, with only seven counties represented. The limited representation was discouraging, but the mem- bers took heart from the inspiring words of Gov- ernor Yates, addressed to a committee of the order who waited upon him. At a special ses- sion of the Executive Committee, held at Peoria, six days later, a vigorous campaign was mapped out, under which agents were sent into nearly every county in the State. In Oc- tober, 1862, the strength of the order in Illi- nois was estimated at three to five thousand; a few months later, the number of enrolled members had increased to 50,000 - so rapid had been the growth of the order. On March 25, 1863, a Grand Council met in Chicago- 404 Councils in Illinois being represented, with

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a number from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wiscon- sin, Iowa and Minnesota. At this meeting a Committee was appointed to prepare a plan of organization for a National Grand Council, which was carried out at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 20th of May following-the constitution, ritual and signs of the Illinois organization being adopted with slight modifications. The revised obligation -taken upon the Bible, the Declaration of Inde- pendence and the Constitution of the United States-bound members of the League to "sup- port, protect and defend the Government of the United States and the flag thereof, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, " and to"bear true faith and allegiance to the same"; to "defend the State against invasion or insurrection"; to support only "true and reliable men" for offices of trust and profit; to protect and defend worthy members, and to preserve inviolate the secrets of the order. The address to new mem- bers was a model of impressiveness and a powerful appeal to their patriotism. The organization extended rapidly, not only throughout the North- west, but in the South also, especially in the army. In 1864 the number of Councils in Illinois was estimated at 1,300, with a membership of 175,000; and it is estimated that the total mem- bership, throughout the Union, was 2,000,000. The influence of the silent, but zealous and effect- ive, operations of the organization, was shown, not only in the stimulus given to enlistments and support of the war policy of the Government, but in the raising of supplies for the sick and wounded soldiers in the field. Within a few weeks before the fall of Vicksburg, over $25,000 in cash, besides large quantities of stores, were sent to Col. John Williams (then in charge of the Sanitary Bureau at Springfield), as the direct result of appeals made through circulars sent out by the officers of the "League." Large contri- butions of money and supplies also reached the sick and wounded in hospital through the medium of the Sanitary Commission in Chicago. Zealous efforts were made by the opposition to get at the secrets of the order, and, in one case, a complete copy of the ritual was published by one of their organs; but the effect was so far the reverse of what was anticipated, that this line of attack was not continued. During the stormy session of the Legislature in 1863, the League is said to have rendered effective service in protecting Gov- ernor Yates from threatened assassination. It continued its silent but effective operations until the complete overthrow of the rebellion, when it ceased to exist as a political organization.

UNITED STATES SENATORS. The follow- ing is a list of United States senators from Illinois, from the date of the admission of the State into the Union until 1899, with the date and duration of the term of each: Ninian Edwards, 1818-24; Jesse B. Thomas, Sr., 1818-29; John McLean, 1824-25 and 1829-30; Elias Kent Kane, 1825-35; David Jewett Baker, Nov. 12 to Dec. 11, 1830; John M. Robinson, 1830-41; William L. D. Ewing, 1835-37; Richard M. Young, 1837-43; Samuel Mc- Roberts, 1841-43; Sidney Breese, 1843-49; James Semple, 1843-47; Stephen A. Douglas, 1847-61; James Shields, 1849-55; Lyman Trumbull, 1855-73; Orville H. Browning, 1861-63; William A. Rich- ardson, 1863-65; Richard Yates, 1865-71; John A. Logan, 1871-77 and 1879-86; Richard J. Oglesby, 1873-79; David Davis, 1877-83; Shelby M. Cullom, first elected in 1883, and re-elected four times, his fifth term expiring in 1912; Charles B. Farwell, 1887-91; John McAuley Palmer, 1891-97; William E. Mason, 1897-1903; Albert J. Hopkins, 1903-09; William Lorimer, 1909 -.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (The New). One of the leading educational institutions of the country, located at Chicago. It is the outgrowth of an attempt, put forth by the American Educa- tional Society (organized at Washington in 1888). to supply the place which the original institution of the same name had been designed to fill. (See University of Chicago-The Old.) The following year, Mr. John D. Rockefeller of New York ten- dered a contribution of $600, 000 toward the endow- ment of the enterprise, conditioned upon securing additional pledges to the amount of $400,000 by June 1, 1890. The offer was accepted, and the sum promptly raised. In addition, a site, covering four blocks of land in the city of Chicago, was secured-two and one-half blocks being acquired by purchase for $282,500, and one and one-half (valued at $125,000) donated by Mr. Marshall Field. A charter was secured and an organiza- tion effected, Sept. 10, 1890. The Presidency of the institution was tendered to, and accepted by, Dr. William R. Harper. Since that time the University has been the recipient of othor gener- ous benefactions by Mr. Rockefeller and others, until the aggregate donations (1898) exceed $10,- 000,000. Of this amount over one-half has been contributed by Mr. Rockefeller, while he has pledged himself to make additional contributions of $2,000,000, conditioned upon the raising of a like sum, from other donors, by Jan. 1, 1900. The buildings erected on the campus, prior to 1896, include a chemical laboratory costing $182,000; a lecture liall, $150,000; a physical laboratory

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$150,000; a museum, $100,000; an academy dor- mitory, $30,000; three dormitories for women, $150,000; two dormitories for men, $100,000, to which several important additions were made during 1896 and '97. The faculty embraces over 150 instructors, selected with reference to their fitness for their respective departments from among the most eminent scholars in America and Europe. Women are admitted as students and graduated upon an equality with men. The work of practical instruction began in October, 1892, with 589 registered students, coming from nearly every Northern State, and including 250 gradu- ates from other institutions, to which accessions were made, during the year, raising the aggregate to over 900. The second year the number ex- ceeded 1,100; the third, it rose to 1,750, and the fourth (1895-96), to some 2,000, including repre- sentatives from every State of the Union, besides many from foreign countries. Special features of the institution include the admission of gradu- ates from other institutions to a post-graduate course, and the University Extension Division, which is conducted largely by means of lecture courses, in other cities, or through lecture centers in the vicinity of the University, non-resident students having the privilege of written exami- nations. The various libraries embrace over 300,000 volumes, of which nearly 60,000 belong to what are called the "Departmental Libraries,?' besides a large and valuable collection of maps and pamphlets.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (The Old), an educational institution at Chicago, under the care of the Baptist denomination, for some years known as the Douglas University. Senator Stephen A. Douglas offered, in 1854, to donate ten acres of land, in what was then near the southern border of the city of Chicago, as a site for an institution of learning, provided buildings cost- ing $100,000, be erected thereon within a stipu- lated time. The corner-stone of the main building was laid, July 4, 1857, but the financial panic of that year prevented its completion, and Mr. Doug- las extended the time, and finally deeded the land to the trustees without reserve. For eighteen years the institution led a precarious existence, struggling under a heavy debt. By 1885, mort- gages to the amount of $320, 000 having accumu- lated, the trustees abandoned further effort, and acquiesced in the sale of the property under fore- closure proceedings. The original plan of the institution contemplated preparatory and col- legiate departments, together with a college of law and a theological school.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, the leading edu- cational institution under control of the State, located at Urbana and adjoining the city of Champaign. The Legislature at the session of 1863 accepted a grant of 480,000 acres of land under Act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862, making an appropriation of public lands to States -- 30,000 acres for each Senator and each Representative in Congress-establishing colleges for teaching agri- culture and the mechanic arts, though not to the exclusion of classical and scientific studies. Land- scrip under this grant was issued and placed in the hands of Governor Yates, and a Board of Trustees appointed under the State law was organ- ized in March, 1867, the institution being located the same year. Departments and courses of study were established, and Dr. John M. Gregory, of Michigan, was chosen Regent (President) .- The landscrip issued to Illinois was sold at an early day for what it would bring in open market, except 25,000 acres, which was located in Ne- braska and Minnesota. This has recently been sold, realizing a larger sum than was received for all the scrip otherwise disposed of. The entire sum thus secured for permanent endowment ag- gregates $613,026. The University revenues were further increased by donations from Congress to each institution organized under the Act of 1862, of $15,000 per annum for the maintenance of an Agricultural Experiment Station, and, in 1890, of a similar amount for instruction-the latter to be increased $1,000 annually until it should reach $25,000 .- A mechanical building was erected in 1871, and this is claimed to have been the first of its kind in America intended for strictly educa- tional purposes. What was called "the main building" was formally opened in December, 1873. Other buildings embrace a "Science Hall," opened in 1892; a new "Engineering Hall," 1894; a fine Library Building, 1897. Eleven other prin- cipal structures and a number of smaller ones have been erected as conditions required. The value of property aggregates nearly $2,500,000, and appropriations from the State, for all purposes, previous to 1904, foot up $5,123,517.90 .- Since 1871 the institutiou has been open to women. The courses of study embrace agriculture, chem- istry, polytechnics, military tactics, natural and general sciences, languages and literature, eco- nomics, household science, trade and commerce. The Graduate School dates from 1891. In 1896 the Chicago College of Pharmacy was connected with the University: a College of Law and & Library School were opened in 1897, and the same year the Chicago College of Physicians and Sur.

Military Hall. Machinery Hall.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. URBANA.

Engineering Hall. Chemical Laboratory.

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YAY

Natural History Hall. University Hall.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, URBANA.

Library Hall. Campus View.

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geons was affiliated as the College of Medicine-a School of Dentistry being added to the latter in 1901. In 1885 the State Laboratory of Natural History was transferred from Normal, Ill., and an Agricultural Experiment Station entablished in 1888, from which bulletins are sent to farmers throughout the State who may desire them .- The first name of the Institution was "Illinois Indus- trial University," but, in 1885. this was changed to "University of Illinois." In 1887 the Trustees (of whom there are nine) were made elective by popular vote-three being elected every two years, each holding office six years. Dr. Gregory, having resigned the office of Regent in 1880, was succeeded by Dr. Selim H. Peabody, who had been Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineer- ing. Dr. Peabody resigned in 1891. The duties of Regent were then discharged by Prof. Thomas J. Burrill until August, 1894, when Dr. Andrew Sloan Draper, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of New York, was installed as President, serving until 1904 .- The corps of instruction (1904) includes over 100 Pro- fessors, 60 Associate and Assistant Professors and 200 Instructors and Assistants, besides special lecturers, demonstrators and clerks. The num- ber of students has increased rapidly in recent years, as shown by the following totals for suc- cessive years from 1890-91 to 1903-04, inclusive: 519; 583; 714; 743; 810; 852; 1,075: 1,582; 1,824; 2,234; 2,505; 2,932; 3,289; 3,589. Of the last num- ber, 2,271 were men and 718 women. During 1903-04 there were in all departments at Urbana, 2,547 students (256 being in the Preparatory Aca- demy); and in the three Professional Departments in Chicago, 1,042, of whom 694 were in the Col- lege of Medicine, 185 in the School of Pharmacy, and 163 in the School of Dentistry. The Univer- sity Library contains 63,700 volumes and 14,500 pamphlets, not including 5,350 volumes and 15,850 pamphlets in the State Laboratory of Nat- ural History .- The University occupies a con- spicuous and attractive site, embracing 220 acres adjacent to the line between Urbana, and Cham- paign, and near the residence portion of the two cities. The athletic field of 11 acres, on which stand the gymnasium and armory, is enclosed with an ornamental iron fence. The campus, otherwise, is an open and beautiful park with fine landscape effects.

UNORGANIZED COUNTIES. In addition to the 102 counties into which Illinois is divided, acts were passed by the General Assembly, at different times, providing for the organiza- tion of a number of others, a few of which

were subsequently organized under different names, but the majority of which were never organized at all-the proposition for such or- ganization being rejected by vote of the people within the proposed boundaries, or allowed to lapse by non-action. These unorganized coun- ties, with the date of the several acts authorizing them, and the territory which they were in- tended to include, were as follows: Allen County (1841) - comprising portions of Sanga- mon, Morgan and Macoupin Counties; Audobon (Audubon) County (1843)-from portions of Mont- gomery, Fayette and Shelby; Benton County (1843)-from Morgan, Greene and Macoupin; Coffee County (1837)-with substantially the same territory now comprised within the bound- aries of Stark County, authorized two years later; Dane County (1839)-name changed to Christian in 1840; Harrison County (1855) -- from McLean, Champaign and Vermilion, com- prising territory since partially incorporated in Ford County; Holmes County (1857)-from Champaign and Vermilion; Marquette County (1843), changed (1847) to Highland-compris- ing the northern portion of Adams, (this act was accepted, with Columbus as the county- seat, but organization finally vacated); Michi- gan County (1837)-from a part of Cook; Milton County (1843)-from the south part of Vermil- ion; Okaw County (1841)-comprising substan- tially the same territory as Moultrie, organized under act of 1843; Oregon County (1851)-from parts of Sangamon, Morgan and Macoupin Coun- ties, and covering substantially the same terri- tory as proposed to be incorporated in Allen County ten years earlier. The last act of this character was passed in 1867, when an attempt was made to organize Lincoln County out o_' parts of Champaign and Vermilion, but which failed for want of an affirmative vote.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 109

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857- Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 724

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724